A good start got the Red Wings a lead, and then Jimmy Howard ensured a happy ending.

Doing what no other team has done this season, the Wings handed the Ducks a second straight loss at home, winning, 2-1, Sunday night at Honda Center two days after a 5-1 win.

"It's a confidence builder for us," Brian Lashoff said. "Beating a team like this that's been rolling as they have, especially at home, to come in here and steal two wins is huge."

Daniel Cleary and Drew Miller made it 2-0 before the first period was 10 minutes old, both scoring by being in front of the net. Ryan Getzlaf scored on a power play in the last minute of the second period after Howard already had made 20 stops. Howard reeled off one terrific save after another down the stretch, including a big stop on Teemu Selanne with about 5 minutes left. On a late Anaheim power play, Howard snatched Sheldon Souray's shot out of midair.

"It's a huge four points for us," Howard said. "We knew tonight was going to be a totally different game, and we found a way."

Howard finished with 33 saves, building on the strong night he had Friday, when he held the Ducks at bay early. "We need him to be good and consistent," coach Mike Babcock said. "He's been good all year, he hasn't been consistent all year. But he's been consistent here of late, and that's what we need from him. We need him to be rock solid for us every night."

Howard will get a breather tonight at Phoenix, as Babcock put the onus on Jonas Gustavsson to redeem himself after a poor performance at Calgary 12 days ago. "He's got to come to the party here," Babcock said. "He's got to play for us. He hasn't had much action because he's been hurt all the time. He gets an opportunity, you've got to make good on it."